Improved elevated railway



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Letters Patent No. 96,727, dated November l9, 1869.

IMPRovBD ELEvATED RAILWAY.

The Schedule referred to in-theee Letters Patent and making partici the same.

To all whom #may concern: Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. RAND, of Brooklyn, inthe county of Kings, and State of New York,

have invented a new and improved Elevated Railway; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, 1ear,and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is -avert-ical'cross-section `throughdine x x of fig. 2. Y

Figure 2 is a side elevation;

Figure 3 is a detached cross-section, showing the construction of the rail, "stringers, bolts, and packing, Figure 4 represents a plan of the top of the columns.

The object of this invention is to improve the construction of elevated railways, so as to reduce their `cost, -andrender them stronger, safer, more beautiful;

in appearance, and better adapted to the diiieren't' methods of propulsion than any heretofore brought into public use.

In the drawings- A A represent the pillars that support the rail way, each being in the form of the letter Y, as seen in iig. 1, the Y having a broad base, and consisting of twnl tubular columns, a a, separated from each other ,by lopen spaces e e, and connected by the solid cast connections fit, at as many points as may be conducive to the stability of the structure.

^ The tops of the two columns a a. of each'pillar are united by the inverted arch a', cast with and forming a part of the pillar.-

(The upper end of each column ais shown clearly in iig. 4, fm fm being vertical grooves therein to receive the ends of the stringers, and separated by a central transverse ridge, n..

M M are T-shaped iron stringers, the ends of which rest in the beds m m,.as shown in the several drawings, and are fastened therein by transverse bolts.

The stringers are connected' together, at regular intervals, bycurved cross-beams or ties, similar in shape and position to the ties a. a, seen in tig. 1.

Pieces of rubber, wood, or other material, m', may be put under the end'of the striugers, in the grooves m, to deaden the sound 'and prevent fracture.

From the stiingers M depeudebrackets or rods, which supporta stairway provided with landing-places, located directly beneath the railroad, and forming part of the elevated structure, so that the said railway may be connected with the sidewalk.

4Bythis mode of suspensionno posts are required to-susten the stairway, thus preventing the obstruction, to some degree, of the sidewalk, and at the same time forming an easy descent for passengers.

On the upper surface of the stringeis rest a flat strip, o, of wood, rubber, or other similar material, and

onl the upper side of this rest-s the rail R, the latter ,being of the ordinary shape, and being confined in place by means of half-headed bolts r r.

-flhe object of the intervening strip obetween the iron rails and stringers is to interrupt the vibrations and deaden the sound ofthe passing trains, as well as Vto give a little flexibility or elasticity to the connec-l tion, and prevent the breaking of the rails aud stringers by the concussion of :the heavy car-wheels.

The half-headed pins r hooks are the most convenient means for fastening the rails and packing -in place, for while they ordinarily hold them iirml y and securely,

they will readily release them upon being turned halfv way round,.so that the hook or had of the pin will becomedisconnected from the base flange of the rail.

The Y-forni of the pillars, in connection with the cnrvedionm of the cross. ties, adapts tl'ie railway to qa,

different kind of car from any heretofore employed, and which has` peculiar advantages in the matter of safety.

I will here describe the general construction of such oar, inasmuch as it is intimately connected with my improved railway, and forms a part of this invention.

I I are the rear wheels, which can be made of any Y practicable size, in the usual form, and attached to the`v nearly to the curved crossties,and is conformed'to their shape, as seen in fig. y1.

A portion of the truck extends down outside of the rail, as seen at o fo, so that the truck encloses the rail on both sides. In the event, therefore, of the cars running off of the track, there is little danger.

The body of the truck, sunk between the twostringers, and the lianges 'v 'v outside of the rails, will eectually keep the car in position and prevent accident to the passengers.

The part T may be ballasted, if thought advisable,

`for further security, and the body of thel car itself may be s0 suspended from or supported by the axles as that the bottom of it will occupy the space between the stringere, and serve to. ballast the car.

The rear wheels may extend up through the floor l of the car, as seen in iig. 2,:being properly boxed.

Thisconstruction also adapts the railway to the use of locomotives piovided with a central traction-Wheel. In that case, the rail uponwhich such wheel operates will be aixed to the middle ofthe curved ties, so that the traction-apparatus will be at the centre ofthe' engine and between the rails R R.

All the heavy parts of the engine can easily be con'- structed to come at or below the level of the supporting-rails R R, so that it will. be almost impossible to' capsize the cars. l

Vhen the car is constructed with the trucks S S, as shown. in figs. 1 and 2, the body of the car may be supported at a singleV point upon the truck, and there provided with a suitable spring or springs, to make it ride more easily, and a king-bolt, upon which it can turn laterally in passing curves.

Having thus described my' invention,

What I claim as new, and desire to' secure by Letters Patent, is4 A l. Thev column constructed with the two tubular piles a a, united at 'i fi and at a', all in one casting,

substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In connection with said column A, having the recesses m m in its top, separated by the ridge fn, the arrangement of the stringere M M, packing o o, rails R R, and eccentric-headedl pins Ir fr, all constructedi and adapted to each other, in the manner and for the vpurposes specified.

Witnesses:

JAMES T. GRAHAM, A. V. BRIESEN, 

